Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:19-20 NKJV
As we start today lesson let see how things are heated up. We are the king was full of fury with the three Hebrew boys. Do you know when people that don’t go with the crowd, someone will get mad and upset with that person. The king was at his boiling point. The was so made with the three Hebrew boys, his expression changed on his face. It’s good when people walk with you, but what happens when they go against the people of God. What we forget it’s how we view and see people who are under the authority of God. The king got so upset he order the firey furnace to be heated 7 times hotter than normal. If you think this wasn’t enough the three was bound from head to toe. Here is the next part.
Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:21-23 NKJV
What we see here is only the act of God. One thing we notice is they were bound. They was tied up from head to toe. Not able to move because the scripture reads they was cast into the midst of the burning firery furnace. Cast means to throw or to be put into something fast. What we over look within the passage is the position they are in. We know those people that put the three into the firery furnace was burned because of the flame. God will protect and save but those who may be against you directly or indirectly will receive their reward. They had fallen down because they couldn’t get up and move. Yet God was about to change that around. It may look like and smell like hell but because of God amazing love you don’t have to walk through it alone.
The next part we see God provides for those who loves him and carry out his commands. They could have bow down to the king and everything would seem to be right, but spiritual it wouldn’t set in with their soul.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
Daniel 3:24-25 NKJV
What has troubled the kings mind. Why did he get up and spoke so quickly. Was something going on within the furnace. Why was the king astonished. They had just witnessed the power of God working. Look at the position of the three Hebrew boys and the fourth man. How did three man turn into four. Not only was the fourth man in the midst, the Hebrew boys were loose and walking in the midst of the fire. This wasn’t the strangest part. Who was this fourth man. He looks like the Son of God.
People may put us in a place, where they have us bound. They say and do so much against, yet God will see us through. When we get over the firery furnace experience, they look at us in a different light. Trusting and having faith in God is what people really need in life. The real faith that the Hebrew boys had. The faith to hold out until the end. No compromising, living your life in total heart for God. When it came down to what the king said the fourth one looks like the Son of God.
God will do anything within his will to protect those he love and cherish. We see that evidence all over the bible. Nothing new about the Hebrews boys, God did it. When Jesus comes into your life you can’t sit down no longer you have to move in your heart mind soul and spirit.
Take away from today teaching is in the middle of it all God is able to rescue us from all hurt harm and danger according to his will. A person may night get the results they wanted because God has a greater plan. Your life doesn’t depend on others but it all depends on God. Jesus came into the world. The came that we could be free from the sun and to give us new life.
Finally it all about believing in the power of God. The power of setting us free in the midst of our storm. Let’s take a lesson from those Hebrew boys. No compromise, understand what your life is about in God. God is able all the time.
Givin H.O.P.E. Ministry of Evangelism 